Unsilencing the Archives: Illuminating Voices and Collections
July 6 – 10, 2026
We’re thrilled to announce that the ACDA Biennial Conference will return to the beautiful University of Saint Mary of the Lake campus in Mundelein, IL, this summer!
Join us as we explore myriad ways in which archivists and memory workers make their collections accessible, discoverable, and usable.
Who should attend?
The conference welcomes diocesan/religious archivists, records managers, and other archives advocates, including bishops, chancellors, and support staff. Conference sessions and workshops address archives and records management issues in diocesan and religious institutions.
Resources for Attendees and Speakers
Registration is now OPEN! Early-Bird pricing is available for all attendees until May 15. Early Bird pricing for 4 or 5 days will be available until May 15, 2026!
Early Bird and regular prices based on the number of days you plan to attend:
• 5-day Early Bird: $990 (regularly $1100)
• 4-day Early Bird: $875 (regularly $950)
Note: Attendance fees include all our conference sessions, room and board, nightly socials with an open bar, daily Mass, and Wednesday evening banquet dinner. Attendees planning to attend the Archives and Records Management 101 workshop by Dr. Emilie Gagnet Leumas should register for the 5-day option.
The James O’Toole Biennial Conference Scholarship
The James O’Toole Biennial Conference Scholarship is awarded to individuals employed in (arch)diocesan archives for first-time attendance at the ACDA Biennial Conference at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. The scholarship covers the full cost of the conference, including registration, meals, and lodging. Transportation and ancillary costs are the responsibility of the awardee.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be employed in diocesan archives, a first-time attendee at the Biennial Conference, and a member in good standing of ACDA.
The application is due by May 1, 2026. The scholarship is competitive and will be awarded by the Program Committee by May 6.
Questions, concerns, or suggestions?
Email Programming@diocesanarchivists.org or Programming Committee Chair, Tanya Taylor-Norwood, ttaylo@dioceseoftrenton.org
Resources for 2026 Conference Sponsors
An estimated 130 diocesan and religious order archivists, records managers, chancellors, and support staff attend the conference. Please consider promoting your services or products to our attendees while supporting this valuable educational event. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here – sponsorship registrations are due May 31, 2026.
For further inquiries regarding specific/custom sponsorship packages or submission protocol, please contact program committee member, Patrick Shank, at pshank@archphila.org or (215) 904-8149.
Many thanks to the
2026 ACDA Biennial Conference Sponsors
